Slow to see broken leg

A man who fell off a ladder went home from Newark Hospital after being told he had not broken his leg, only to find out five days later that he had.

Mr Simon Ward (42) of Victoria Street, Newark, fell while putting up banners for his daughter’s 18th birthday and went to the accident and emergency department at about 11pm.

He had blood tests and four X-rays and staff wanted to transfer him to King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton-in-Ashfield, to stay overnight in case he had concussion.

When Mr Ward heard that he had not broken his leg, he discharged himself.

He said: “I was only concerned with having a broken leg so I discharged myself.

“Beds are more important to other people. I went home but my leg was still in agony.”

Four days later, on Tuesday of last week, he was called by the hospital who wanted him to return because there was a discrepancy over his hip X-ray.

He went the next day and saw a different doctor who could see nothing wrong with his hip X-ray, but noticed Mr Ward was still limping and was in pain with his leg.

On checking Mr Ward’s leg X-ray, it was found that he had a fractured femur.

Mr Ward, a technician, said the care he received was good apart from the missed break.

He praised the staff nurses and said they should be proud of the care they provided.

“The doctor was fine but did not pick up on the broken leg,” he said.

Mr Ward said it would have been better if his X-rays had been checked sooner.

His leg, from toes to thigh, is now in plaster for four weeks.

Mr Ward has lodged a complaint to the trust that runs the hospital in a bid to stop a repeat of the problem.

A spokesman for Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust said they were investigating.

Mr Ward’s case follows other incidents at the hospital involving complaints about the treatment of broken bones.

Two years ago schoolboy Wayne Holmes of Elizabeth Road, Newark, was sent home with two broken bones because the family were told he could not have an X-ray because the radiologist had gone home.

He had to wait until the next day when an X-ray showed his foot was broken in two places.

The following month Mr Richard Walls, of Philip Road, Newark, complained that he had not been given a correct diagnosis at the fracture clinic despite two visits.